Career Move - Handgun Safety

[doc540]

Been thinking about it a long time, so it's time to actually do it.

LOT of people buying handguns around here locally, and God bless'em, some have no clue what to do with them.

So, it's not going to be about self defense or home defense, just how to be safe, operate, and secure a handgun.

What do my compadres here think about it?

http://www.train2shoot.net

 

[SE Flyer]

What are you credentials to teach firearms?

 

[doc540]

Excellent question, and, I hope, well covered on the web link I posted.

Here's our first news coverage, but not sure how long the link will be up.

http://kfdm.com/shared/news/top-stories/stories/kfdm_vid_1083.shtml

 

[doc540]

Coached my first student yesterday.

She'd never fired a handgun before.

Using Brian Enos' ideas about stance, hold, and sighting (FRONT SIGHT) she practiced with Airsoft in the classroom.

Lo and behold, when we shot the .22's at the range, she immediately did well and applied BE's ideas.

Several things really pleased me:

1. She understood WHY be's ideas worked
2. She was able to quickly apply them.
3. She's confident and very eager to shoot again.

That's win-win-win right there!

And I KNEW it would work.

 

[J2FLAN]

I think it is a great idea. Too many times at the range, I have seen people with little or no gun safety knowledge, scary. Probably the only downside is getting people to accept the lesson.

 

[Drail]

I was an NRA intructor for some years back in the 90s and the best part of my job was teaching women's classes. They realized they didn't know anything about handguns, they had no preconceived notions from TV and movies, they listened to what we told them and when we got them on the range for their first time they all got on the target quickly and just had a blast. I can still remember the precious looks on their faces when they realized they could shoot a handgun and defend themselves - it was like a light bulb went on. I saw so many cases where these women quickly learned to shoot well enough to embarass their husbands on the range. The men always seemed to think they knew everything about firearms safety and marksmanship. You almost had to hit them upside the head with a 2X4 to get them to listen. It was truly something to behold.

 

[doc540]

Only ran across one problem:

The vintage (and I thought "smooth-as-a-Smith) Taurus 94 was too stiff for her to operate.

I didn't want to have to drop $500 plus in a .22LR training revolver, but it's looking to be the only option.

Ideas?

 

[beatledog7]

Does it have to be a revolver? If not, you might consider teaching pure beginners with a Buckmark, which can be had for about $350 or less on Gunbroker.

Easy to shoot, very light recoil, reliable. That's what I'm gonna be using.

 

[doc540]

Yes, a .22LR revolver.

I'm using nice airsoft guns, revolver and semi in class.

And a .22LR revolver and semi (Ruger SR22) at the range.

 

[BCRider]

The new Ruger SP101 in .22 may be a nice option instead of the Taurus. Or drop a spring kit into the Taurus to lighten the pull a little.

Working only with .22's in the course sounds like a nice idea from a training standpoint. I don't see a list of what guns you're using other than you mention a .22 Ruger semi and the apparently Taurus revolver.

Perhaps a few other options which closely match the bigger center fire guns would be nice. Such as a GSG 1911 and the new S&W M&P-22 and the ISSC "Glock'alike". It would provide your students with a gun which handles just like some of the more popular center fire guns in terms of controls and feel. And dare I suggest the rather expensive but so VERY nice CZ Kadet? Or Sig 226 in .22?

 

[doc540]

Thanks

Had a local smith massage the M94 yesterday resulting in a dramatic improvement of the action. Now it's truly "Smith-like".

The other semi is a Ruger SR22 which perfectly fits the training role.

Airsoft's are a WinGun, all-steel Sport 708 revoler (with brass cases) and a KWA "ATP", Glock clone. Both are in the 350-400fps range.